Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 741–760 of 4,527 · this parliament
From what date is the Royal Navy due to commence its commitment to NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group 1.
The Royal Navy routinely contributes to NATO's Standing Naval Forces, including Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), as part of the UK's ongoing commitment to Alliance deterrence and defence. The specific dates of UK deployments are subject to operational planning and security considerations, but the UK continues to meet all NATO readiness and force generation requirements.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 111272 on RAF Wyton: NATO, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of constructing a new NATO-specific building to facilitate a NATO intelligence gathering function at RAF Wyton.
The UK remains fully committed to NATO and continues to meet its longstanding obligations through close cooperation and collaboration with Allies across the Alliance. This work strengthens collective security and enhances shared situational awareness, from which the UK also benefits.
Pursuant to the correction of 10 March 2026 to Question 115634 on Ministry of Justice: ICT, for what reason here was a discrepancy of 510 laptops, mobile phones and electronic devices recorded as lost or stolen between the original answer of 3 March 2026 and the correction of 10 March 2026.
When the previous (incorrect) answer was provided, it was the result of a simple search being run against criteria in the service management system and the result published.When the corrected response was provided, it was a result of a manual search through records ensuring that duplicates were removed, and then checked against the ID numbers of assets known to be present.
What assessment has he made of the potential merits of a) deconflicting and b) combining Project Shrinker with Project Cairns.
Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems and specifications has not yet taken place. Project SHRINKER is a Defence procurement project. For reasons of operational security, I cannot provide any further details.
On which date will the Enhanced Voluntary Returns offer pilot end.
This pilot is about fairness and control. The scheme is designed to get families out of costly hotels faster, remove incentives to delay, and save taxpayers money. We will see if it works and scale if it does.We expect people to take the offer and leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departureThe offer is directed at failed asylum seeker families with no right to stay, who are currently being housed at public expense. It is not targeted at particular nationalities.
Which nationalities are included in the Enhanced Voluntary Returns offer pilot.
This pilot is about fairness and control. The scheme is designed to get families out of costly hotels faster, remove incentives to delay, and save taxpayers money. We will see if it works and scale if it does.We expect people to take the offer and leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departureThe offer is directed at failed asylum seeker families with no right to stay, who are currently being housed at public expense. It is not targeted at particular nationalities.
What is the complete list of current project names being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry of Defence undertakes many hundreds of projects and programmes across the organisation. Information about the most strategically important and complex of these is published each year in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) annual report.
What assessment has he made of the risk the DF-21D missile poses to Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
Which T45 Daring-class ship is scheduled to deploy on Operation Firecrest as part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
When HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to deploy on Operation Firecrest.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
What are the disposal plans for a) HMS Chiddingford and b) HMS Middleton.
There are currently no disposal plans for the Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels, HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Middleton. The last Hunt Class ship is due to leave service in 2031.
What steps he has taken to procure a Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System to counter incoming a) rockets, b) artillery, c) mortars and d) drones.
Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
What assessment has he made of the potential threat posed by the Chinese Ocean Star Cluster and its layered defences, to future Royal Navy operations in the northern South China Sea.
As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
Whether the Royal Navy will contribute an Astute-class attack submarine on Operation Firecrest.
Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations. Further detail about Operation Firecrest will be provided in due course.
What is the full scope of Project Talon.
Project Talon seeks a maritime Counter-UAS capability able to detect, track, identify and defeat airborne threats. Further information can be found at this link - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/716f2056-c004-45bd-83f0-503ea349b8aa?origin=SearchResults&p=1
When is HMS Bangor due to complete its refit.
HMS BANGOR is not in refit; the ship is undergoing structural repairs following the ship's recovery from deployed operations. These are currently scheduled to have been completed by the end of April 2026.
What assessment he has made of the reasons UK military assets failed to intercept the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026.
We have deployed significant air defence assets to the region since January. This includes extra jets, radars, HMS Dragon, counter drones systems and over 500 additional British personnel as part of our significant air defence team. This is a comprehensive layered air defence capability. It would not be appropriate to comment on any assessment which may be utilised by our adversaries.
What warning RAF Akrotiri was given by (a) the United States, (b) Israel or (c) other allies of the approach of the four attack drones on Sunday 1 March.
It is a longstanding position that the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific intelligence, or information from third party nations, for security reasons.
For what reason the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on Monday 2 March (local time) was initially reported to have struck the runway by the Foreign Secretary, rather than the building that it did strike.
In any situation that is developing as rapidly as the situation in the Middle East, new information will become available at short notice to update initial impressions. As we have said consistently, assessment of incidents will always be an ongoing process.
What protection RAF Akrotiri has against Iranian Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, in the context of the move of the US Navy USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Red Sea on 5 March.
In addition to the equipment and capabilities stationed at RAF Akrotiri, the Ministry of Defence have added 400 additional personnel, increased air defence radar and missiles since January. We have deployed F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, three Wildcat helicopters and a Merlin helicopter. HMS Dragon has now departed from the UK, where, as the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026, it will join US air defence destroyers in the Eastern Mediterranean.